South Dakota State’s Myah Selland has been chosen as Reaching the Summit’s Women Summit League Player of the Year.
As the presumptive Summit League Player of the Year, South Dakota State’s Myah Selland could become the third Jackrabbit to win the award, joining Macy Miller (2017-18 & 2018-19) and Jennifer Warkenthien (2008-09). After a remarkable season, Selland led the league in scoring (19.2 ppg), was fifth in rebounds (6.8 rpg), third in assists (3.8 apg) and second in field goal percentage (51.5%). She had four games where she scored over 25 points this year, helping her earn a league-high seven Summit League Player of the Week honors this season. Although her season was ended by an injury, her resume impressed the voters. I speak on behalf of our writers when I wish Myah a quick and healthy recovery. We hope to see you on the court again soon!
Of little surprise to our writers, South Dakota’s Hannah Sjerven was voted as our Defensive Player of the Year. Sjerven helped USD hold their opponents to a Summit League best 59.6 points per game and kept their opponents average field goal percentage to a cool 37% throughout the year. She finished the year first in blocks per game (2.5) and tallied a league-high 52 blocks on the season. She also led the league in rebounding, grabbing 211 boards this season (143 defensive rebounds), averaging a league-high 10 rebounds per game.
North Dakota State’s Heaven Hamling was the unanimous choice for this year’s Newcomer of the Year. Hamling started 21 of the Bison’s 22 games this season and averaged 13.2 ppg and 2.8 apg. The redshirt-sophomore from Grand Rapids, MN reached double figures in 16 of the 22 games she played, including a career-high 30 points last weekend against South Dakota. She currently leads NDSU in points per game, field goals made, three-point field goals made, assists and minutes played per game.
Oral Roberts’ Tierney Coleman is our Freshman of the Year. This award was the most contested out of any of the awards we voted on, which is a testament to all the great, young talent the Summit League has right now. The Arlington, TX native started 20 of the Golden Eagles’ 22 games this season. Coleman averaged 12 points per game and was named our Freshman of the Week numerous times this year.
South Dakota State’s Aaron Johnston gets the nod as our Coach of the Year after guiding the Jackrabbits to a perfect 14-0 conference record; their first-ever undefeated conference regular season as members of The Summit League. Under his leadership, SDSU found its way back to the AP top-25 rankings for the first time in 11 seasons. As of March 1st, Johnston and the Jackrabbits sit at No. 21 in the AP poll, No. 22 in the USA TODAY Coaches poll, and No. 41 in the NET rankings. Regardless of what happens this weekend at the Summit League Tournament, Johnston and company have built a strong case to get in the NCAA Tournament, with early-season wins over then No. 15 Iowa State, and two teams currently ranked in the AP top-25 (No. 18 Gonzaga & No. 23 Missouri State).
Our All-League first team is comprised of Selland, Sjerven, Hamling, South Dakota seniors Chloe Lamb (15.8 ppg, 44 FG%) and Liv Korngable (14.5 ppg, 3.9 apg), and South Dakota State senior Tylee Irwin (13.4 ppg, 89.6 FT%).
Our five-player second team consisted of Kansas City Junior Naomi Alnatas (16 ppg, 46.6 FG%), North Dakota senior Julia Fleecs (13.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg), Western Illinois senior Grace Gilmore (13.3 ppg, 3.7 apg), and Denver sophomores Meghan Boyd (15.2 ppg, 90 FT%), and Uju Ezeudu (15.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg).
Honorable mention accolades went to Coleman, Western Illinois junior Evan Zars (11.3 ppg, 8.9 rpg), South Dakota State junior Paiton Burckhard (13 ppg, 51 FG%), North Dakota State senior Emily Dietz (10.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg), South Dakota State sophomore Tori Nelson (9.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg), and South Dakota Freshman Maddie Krull (9 ppg, 2.3 apg).
Our All-Newcomer team features Hamling, Coleman, Krull, Oral Roberts junior Ariel Walker (8.8 ppg, 1.2 spg), and North Dakota State junior Reneya Hopkins (7.5 ppg, 84.8 FT%).
2020-21 Women’s Basketball Postseason Awards
First Team All-Summit League
Myah Selland, South Dakota State
Hannah Sjerven, South Dakota
Chloe Lamb, South Dakota
Heaven Hamling, North Dakota State
Liv Korngable, South Dakota
Tylee Irwin, South Dakota State
Second Team All-Summit League
Naomie Alnatas, Kansas City
Julia Fleecs, North Dakota
Grace Gilmore, Western Illinois
Meghan Boyd, Denver
Uju Ezeudu, Denver
Honorable Mention All-Summit League
Evan Zars, Western Illinois
Paiton Burkhard, South Dakota State
Emily Dietz, North Dakota State
Tori Nelson, South Dakota State
Maddie Krull, South Dakota
Tierney Coleman, Oral Roberts
Summit League All-Newcomer Team
Heaven Hamling, North Dakota State
Maddie Krull, South Dakota
Tierney Coleman, Oral Roberts
Ariel Walker, Oral Roberts
Reneya Hopkins, North Dakota State
Player of the Year
Myah Selland, South Dakota State
Defensive Player of the Year
Hannah Sjerven, South Dakota
Freshmen of the Year
Tierney Coleman, Oral Roberts
Newcomer of the Year
Heaven Hamling, North Dakota State
Coach of the Year
Aaron Johnston, South Dakota State
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